Slavery was not a uniquely American evil, nor was it entirely race-based. This is not an attempt to excuse America’s role in the institution of slavery, nor is it a politically charged narrative designed to divide us. It is simply a recounting of historical facts—facts that are often lost or distorted in modern retellings. And understanding these facts is critical if we hope to move forward as a united people.
Slavery has existed throughout human history, touching nearly every civilization. Ancient Egyptians used enslaved labor to construct their monuments. Greeks and Romans enslaved prisoners of war, forcing them into agriculture, mining, and domestic work. In Asia, slavery was embedded in caste systems and debt bondage, enslaving millions. Even African kingdoms, such as the Ashanti and Dahomey, actively participated in slavery, capturing and selling people long before Europeans colonized the Americas. The Islamic slave trade, spanning over a thousand years, enslaved millions across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Slavery was not an invention of the United States or of the modern era. It was humanity’s shame long before the first African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619.
Slavery in North America
Before European settlers arrived in North America, Native American tribes practiced slavery. Captives from rival tribes were forced into labor under harsh conditions. This wasn’t a fringe practice; it was deeply embedded in the cultures of many tribes.
When Europeans began colonizing the New World, the first slaves they brought weren’t African—they were white. Poor Europeans, criminals, and debtors were shipped to the colonies as indentured servants. These individuals worked under brutal conditions, often alongside enslaved Africans. At first, these systems didn’t discriminate by race.
Race-based slavery, as we understand it today, emerged largely due to the transatlantic slave trade. African tribes captured and sold other Africans to European traders in exchange for goods and weapons. This was not an imposed system; African leaders actively participated in what became a highly lucrative enterprise.
Here’s an often-overlooked fact: the first documented legal case involving slavery in the American colonies wasn’t white-on-black. In 1655, Anthony Johnson, a free black man, sued to keep John Casor, another black man, as his slave for life. Johnson won, setting a legal precedent for life-long slavery. Slavery in the American colonies, especially in its early stages, was a complex and evolving system influenced by economic interests and social hierarchies, not solely by race.
America’s Struggle Against Slavery
The United States declared independence in 1776 and allowed slavery until 1865—a span of just 89 years. Compared to the millennia slavery existed globally, this was a relatively short period. Individual states began outlawing slavery as early as 1777, showing that abolitionist sentiments were present during the nation’s founding.
Unlike most nations, however, the United States abolished slavery through a bloody civil war. Over 600,000 Americans sacrificed their lives in a conflict that tore the country apart, making America one of the few—if not the only—nations to end slavery through war. This immense sacrifice is a legacy worth remembering, as it reflects the nation’s painful but determined journey to align itself with the ideals of liberty and equality.
The Complexities After Abolition
Even after slavery was abolished in 1865, its legacy and complexities persisted. Some Native American tribes resisted freeing their slaves. The Cherokee Nation, for example, only released enslaved African Americans after being compelled to do so by federal authorities during Reconstruction. This highlights a rarely discussed aspect of slavery in America: it wasn’t exclusively a “white” institution. Slavery crossed cultural and racial lines, complicating the historical narrative further.
Meanwhile, slavery continued in other parts of the world long after the United States abolished it. Brazil didn’t outlaw slavery until 1888, 23 years after the U.S. Saudi Arabia officially abolished slavery in 1962, and Mauritania didn’t make slavery illegal until 1981. Even today, forms of modern slavery, such as human trafficking and forced labor, persist in many regions.
I remember hearing the news in 1981 that Mauritania had finally abolished slavery and being shocked that it was still legal anywhere in the world. That wasn’t ancient history; it was within many of our lifetimes.
A Broader Perspective
Slavery was a global evil that touched every civilization in history. The United States was undeniably part of that history, but it also made monumental sacrifices to abolish it. Understanding this broader context doesn’t excuse slavery—it puts it into perspective. And that perspective matters if we are to move forward as a united people.
Narratives like the 1619 Project would have us believe that slavery is the defining feature of American history, as if it started and ended here. But history is rarely that simple. Oversimplifying slavery as uniquely American—or entirely race-based—ignores its global and historical context. Worse, it fuels division and distracts from the incredible sacrifices made to end slavery in this nation.
A Legacy Worth Honoring
So rather than race-baiting with divisive narratives or stoking conflict with calls for reparations, how about we celebrate the fact that the United States was one of the first nations to abolish slavery? How about we honor and remember the over 600,000 Americans who gave their lives to end one of history’s most unjust institutions?
That is a legacy worth preserving—a history that should unite us, not tear us apart. Let us embrace the complexity of history, recognize the progress we’ve made, and move forward together with a shared commitment to liberty and justice for all.
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